I'm hoping that President Obama goes on Prime Time TV, perhaps tomorrow evening and makes his case and puts the blame on the true villains here.

We all know it’s the Republicans and the crazy Tea Baggers that are causing all of the problems, as far as a resolution.

John,

I can't wait for you to eat your words in 2012..

Does anyone not realize that the FY 2011 budget should have been passed prior to the end of the fiscal year 2010? Who was in control of the house at that time? Democrats. Republican control didn't take place until they started after January 1, 2011. Bottom line is if the Democrats had acted as they needed to before the end of FY2010, we would not be in this situation.

John M - you really seem to be the more hateful - for among other reasons assuming that people without health care "won't work."

My opinion is that the Republicans are over reaching on this one - the reason I say this is because sooner or later the forty percent of the population that has been brainwashed by the Republican propaganda machine will wise up and realize that having a job that pays a decent wage is more important than not having gay marriages, no mosque in lower Manhattan, abortion rights, prayer in school and the whole raft of lame social issues used to manipulate their emotions.

The republicans have stated that congress should not be paid during downtime.

The democrats and obama have stated that they have compromised to reach a deal...if the reps are saying 63billion and the current is 32bil....that means the Dems were at zero...shameful. To freeze todays spending without reductions .....soon we will be a territory owned by china

Seems to me obama has VOWED to do many things. lol

Just to refresh everyone's memory, "The Party of NO" consistently filibustered and obstructed not just budget legislation last year but almost everything else.

The reason we still don't have a budget for this fiscal year, which is more than half over, is the GOP/TP.

Hannity cracked me up last night blaming the Democratics. Does he and his robo-guests really think that any American with an IQ over 80 doesn't see right through them??

This is for Nevada-Brett.

Obama did not say he would veto to budget. He said he would veto the stop-gap funding bill if it changed from the current stop-gap measure. WHICH HE SHOULD VETO IT.

The republicans and tea-baggers need to realize they are not going to get everything they want at our (taxpayer) expense. They need to go to RUSSIA. They wanted tax cuts for the rich. They got it. But now they want those of us that aren't rich to pay for it.

If the US is so broke, why do they want want tax cuts for the rich? See GOP 2012 budget.

OBAMA 2012!! YES!!

As a military retiree whose check would also be withheld, I would rather the President Veto the GOP Bill then allow the GOP to use the military as a political bargainning chip. The GOP needs to drop the Policy Riders and submit a Clean Bill. They should address the Policy Riders under separate legislation. The only reason they have attached them to this Budget negotiation is to force their political agenda down our throat. The GOP leadership are cowards for holding the Military's pay hostage.

Let's not offend the military.....what about the police, firefighters, border patrol? Teabaggers want a civil war, but just don't offend the military...we'll look bad if we do that. What a bunch of children playing games.

By the way if yoy want to see the electoral implications of the Republican war on the Middle Class check out what's happening in the Wisconsin elections.

It's simply amazing that the Democrats in office can crap all of Democrat voters shoes and tell them the Republicans are to blame and you guys go right along with it. The Democrats didn't pass a budget last year. That's all this story should be stating. That, and repeating the mantra of "cleaning up the previous administrations mess" since they loved using that one so much.

The Democrats did not pass a budget last year because they do not have the courage to make spending cuts. The Republicans have the courage to state that this country is on the verge of bankruptcy. Has anyone heard a Democrat make that statement? No, because their heads on in the sand. The USA is headed on the same path as Ireland, Greece, and Portugal. Wake up America!!!

The reason that no budget was passed for this year was because the party of NO filibustered the original attempt. It sure is too bad that Senator Kennedy died when he did, can you imagine all the good that us liberals could have done if he had lasted another 18 months??? I'm looking forward to 2012 myself, when the Democrats win back the House in a landslide, sending the party of big money for the rich at the expense of everyone else back to China and Paraguay where they belong. Just think, that big tax cut for the rich is going to expire and become a huge issue during the next election cycle!!! You Republicants think that the tax cut is going to be extended again? Not!!!

Allen. As already said. The stopped and filibustered everything. President and dems can't do it alone. And the GOP made sure nothing got done. They have already had so many concessions from the other side. From taxes on. But they don't compromise. It's their way or no way. And people are seeing it. Did you notice what happened to the right wing GOP Governer in Wisconsin? He tried to bully his way and not give any concessions. he cut state workers pay by 9% as well as health benifits. And they ACCEPTED It. Then to top it he tried to bully them more. And cause of that a simple April election in Wisconsin for a Supreme court nominee that had 55% of the vote in a primary with the next person having less then half of that amount. Is beating him cause the voters are pointing out and making a stand that they won't be bullied. And that they will accept some things like pay cuts. But when you bully. You get seen through. An April election and a guy that had 55% of the vote in a 4 way race will lose to a no one just cause they are affiliated with the Governor. You think other GOP members don't see the political suicide some of these people are making. When one side makes concessions and you make none. Then top it off by taking whatever is left the people will unite. it's happening. And the majority of Americans see this for what it is. The GOP having got ore then enough concessions not willing to give up anything. Thats not negotiating. it's basically blackmail. Our way or shut down. The voters see it. And the fact Trump is the conservatives top prospect for president right now shows how sad that side is right now.

Yours Truly

Twisted......Afghanistan vet and independent.

Just to pint out before I am painted as a left wing liberal

What in hell does abortion have to do with the budget? C'mon Repuglicans - insist that your reps pass a clean budget and drop all of the ridiculous riders that have nothing to do with budgetary matters. We can fight the abortion battles on their own merit at a later time.

"California Veteran

As a military retiree whose check would also be withheld, I would rather the President Veto the GOP Bill then allow the GOP to use the military as a political bargainning chip. The GOP needs to drop the Policy Riders and submit a Clean Bill. They should address the Policy Riders under separate legislation. The only reason they have attached them to this Budget negotiation is to force their political agenda down our throat. The GOP leadership are cowards for holding the Military's pay hostage."

THIS! (Bold is my emphasis, though I like the whole comment)

Remove all special interests social projects from all federal funding. If you want something you pay for it. I don't want to pay for your abortion. Lets all take care of ourselves and it will all be a better place to live.

Feisty - You really are predictable.

Republican's cause government shutdown - Bad.

Obama and the Democrats cause government shutdown - Good.

Poor little Moonbat. No surprise you are so blind, you have your head so far up Obama's ass you can't even see anymore. Maybe Obamacare will pay for you r much needed cranial-analectomy.

It's a 1-week budget. The cowards can't agree just 1 week of seeing it the other guys way.

Yeah, we with an iq above 80 know who the real villains are, its the idiots on both sides of the aisle who can't manage $60 billion in cuts in a $3.7 trillion dollar budget.

It's deplorable that these fat-cat spoiled democrats and republicans still have jobs. They and Obama should all be unemployed. We need sense in DC, and this is the one place on earth where no sense exists.

Any fool who thinks this is a 1 party issue deserves $1.5+ trillion dollar annual deficits.

Stupid, irresponsible fools.

Oh my...

The wheels have completely come off of First Read.

Ooooohhhh Yes!!! Let the vetoes begin!!!!

We need a long term solution, not these weekly "with riders attached" bills, that are all about social policy, which the Republicans said they weren't interested in [LIE].

"As an American I am not so shocked that Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize without any accomplishments to his name, because America gave him the White House based on the same credentials." ~Newt Gingrich

Hmmm Steve...oops, I mean Newt. Seems like a humanitarian campaign in Libya counts.......

Obama will pay for his ignorance. You can't run a country this way. Should have had a budget in place last year, do your job!

So the President would rather shut down the Gov't than let them make any changes to his healthscare plan.

Funny, we would rather shut down the Gov't than let it go into effect.

But since spending bills originate in the House, the President can't make a bill that he will accept.

And Obama, you're no Bill Clinton. We will blame you for shutting down the Gov't. You are no where near as slick as old Willie.

We are borrowing 4 out of every 10 dollars the Federal Gov't spends now. We haven't had a balanced budget in over 40 years, and projections are that we won't anytime in the next 30.

The Democrat plan to cut $30 billion on $3,500 billion budget ($1,600 billion borrowed) is proof we can no longer afford your spending. No more Democrats until we get a balanced budget.

Yes, we needed a long term solution LAST YEAR Eric. The Democrats didn't do it. Instead they were too busy with their own sweetheart rider deals & looking for ways to make others pay for more handouts. 4 billion dollars borrowed PER DAY is no joke. They're spending us into oblivion and someone has to either pay for all of this (our kids most likely. That's real humanitarian thinking) or balance the budget so we can give up other services to pay for the health care & $50K to black farmers (who just had to plant a tomato plant on their balcony & let it die to claim they attempted to farm). You could write a book on crap like that Pelosi and Reid pushed through.

cantor must go along with his fascist tea party mentality ... America needs solutions to its debt problems not ideology .. just like a fascist blame someone else and spread fear when they want there own way with no resistence to there evil schemeing for there corporate bosses

The president would LOVE to work with the republicans in congress. The president has already made compromises and tried his best to meet the republicans halfway. One cannot, however, work WITH the GOP when they refuse to compromise and insist on having their way on everything.

My 4 year old son wants all of the toys for himself and throws a tantrum if he is asked to share or compromise. I fear that, if I cannot teach him to play well with others he may well grow up to be a republican congressman. :-(

LOL, wtf? Seriously?!

Why does mainstream media protray the Republicans and Tea Party as reasonable?! President Obama and the Democrats can meet/exceed their moving "number" with more effective cuts to REAL wasteful spending, but the assualt on the middle/working class and the poor is the only goal of the Republicans.

More importantly, why is it all about cuts? Wall Street, mega corporations, and top 1% gains have continued to balloon. No one argues with a more efficient system, but when are we going to start talking about the REVENUE side of the equation!

Trickle-down economics was stupid in the 80's, but we've continued and accelerated it. Can we get off yet?

I guess Steve started the 'collapse' today. Now everyone is happy and glad to jump on Feisty. I suppose you guys just left your home after kicking your wife and the dog, because they p....d you off. You are all still upset so now your are trying to take your frustrations on Bev and Feisty.

Good luck.......

The GOP has their whole economic theory UPSIDE DOWN and DEAD WRONG. The reason tax revenues have plummeted is NOT because America is broke. Both corporate profits and GDP are ABOVE where they were in 2007.

So why is there no tax revenue coming in? Because the money isn't going to WAGES, it's being siphoned off by the investor class. (See the chart)

When workers are paid wages, 100% of that money goes back into the economy. They pay both income taxes and payroll taxes (which account for 36% of U.S. tax revenue), and they spend the rest on goods and services right here in America.

But when the money earned for corporations by their workers is instead diverted to corporate profits and the investor class, tax revenues plummet (NOT grow, as Paul Ryan so history-blindedly predicts). Despite their vastly higher income levels, corporations' share of the tax burden is only 12% due to their vast amounts of tax writeoffs, credits and creative accounting. Both investors and corporations are more likely to move their earnings overseas (into either tax shelters or foreign investments). And foreign entities also hold a big share of the stock market, diverting corporate profits abroad before the American tax system gets a penny.

The investor class also pays an historically low tax rate of 15% on their earnings, as most are capital gains. And neither corporations nor investors pay payroll taxes, a factor which alone knocks a huge hole in the tax rolls. Even when investors do pay earned income tax rates on a portion of their income, those top tax rates are at their lowest since the 1930's. U.S. tax revenues as a percentage of GDP are far lower than many countries whose economies are recovering faster than ours.

The GOP solution? Cut off all the remaining government services that benefit the working class. Cut the top tax rate even lower. Drive wages down even further.

Then pray the fat cats grow a heretofore unseen conscience and give a little of it back.

Are we really that stupid????

MGinRochester - don't the right say "spare the rod and spoil the child"? Line up, GOP, and bend over. Just like you've been asking the working people of this country to do for 30 years.

MGinRochester...

"One cannot, however, work WITH the GOP when they refuse to compromise and insist on having their way on everything."

You sound like a GOP/tea party member during the healthcare debate. LOL!!! I was on most of those posting boards. I don't recall you calling for compromise with the GOP on any of them. Why the change of heart all of a sudden? Oh I get it... You don't get your way w/o having to compromise anymore. No worries. We get it. ROFL!! :)

Steve 505729 -- You're quoting ..... Newt Gingrich? Is Gingrich what passes for the voice of reason these days for the Repubs? Maybe slightly better than Boehner, Palin, Bachman, Limbaugh, Beck, Angle, the witch-what's-her-name-again?, but that's not saying much as the bar was so low to begin with.

Now everyone is happy and glad to jump on Feisty

Eh... I'm used to it by now Fletch2! lol

As much as I can't stand having ANY comments collapsed - it is nice to see the progressives are tired of the one way street around here!

Payback really is a b!tch isn't it? lol

You HAVE to be kidding right? The mainstream media does everything in its power to vilify the GOP and Tea Party. If they're saying the President won't work with them, and that they're making concessions, you can guarantee that it's much, MUCH worse then that from the President. They do anything they can to make him look like a saint, so if they're reporting that he's not, he's probably acting like a bratty child throwing a temper tantrum.

Republicans not reasonable?

Out of the $3,500 billion we are spending this year, they want to cut a measly $50 billion and the Obamacrats won't compromise.

The Republicans compromised on $3,450 billion.

But the Democrats will shut the Gov't down if they don't get their way on that $50 billion.

The Fedral Gov't borrows 4 out of every 10 dollars it spends now.

Feisty,

Come On just Admit it that you are the one that Corridinated the Collaspe comments today.

Us Conservative Regualars know it was just the Regulars libbies that did it on First thoughts

RealAmericansFirst....

I like your enthusiasm, but I find your post laughable since you don't call out the most recent and egregious act of corporations not paying taxes. I'll time line it for you...

2008 - Obama campaigns on many things, but "green technology" is a biggie.

2008 - He wins his election by in large part due to the campaign funds he received. His number 1 contributor...you guessed it....GE.

2009 - Obama and his new super-majority in congress pass huge tax breaks for investing in "green technology".

2011 - GE pays $0 in taxes on billions in profit.

So....

I ask you, and your tendency to rail against the GOP w/o holding the dems to your same standards, why the hypocrisy? Not convenient for your agenda? If you want to be taken seriously...stand by your own convictions and hold your party accountable for doing the same thing the repubs do. Otherwise, you will be nothing more than a hypocrite and no matter how right you may/may not be...your posts will continue to be viewed as such.

ALRIGHT OBAMA!!!!!! Way to show them who is boss! Don't take no for an answer, they MUST SUBMIT TO YOUR WILL. I don't care what those Republicans say, never back down. We need to spend more, not less! What is up with all of these EXTREME cuts these people are trying to make in our budget? I mean come on, it's not like the nation is broke or anything!

WHO CARES?: Who cares that our nation is $14 TRILLION in debt! Who cares that we currently spend $1.6 TRILLION more than we take in each year! Who cares that we are on the path to be $20 TRILLION in debt by 2015! Who cares that every tax payer owes $128,000 in order for us to pay off our National Debt. Who cares that our unfunded liabilities are at $1,019,000 PER TAX PAYER and we will never be able to afford these liabilities. Who cares that it is pretty much mathematically impossible to pay off our debt ever. Who cares that by not getting something passed that our soldiers will not get a paycheck until something is passed. Who cares that most of us (Republican or Democrat) are biased in our opinions and will support our side of the line no matter how wrong they may be, kind of like a sports fan who will support his team and argue every call the ref makes no matter how hard his team may foul. Who cares that Hillary Clinton herself said that our national debt could be our biggest security threat. Who cares that we are CURRENTLY spending at a rate that is faster than more than 40 other presidents spent COMBINED. Who cares if this nation falls apart and we all lose our freedoms due to some minor spending problems......okay, MAJOR SPENDING PROBLEMS. Who cares that 47% of the people in this nation pay nothing in federal taxes and can vote to keep those in power who will keep it that way. Who cares about debt anyway, it's not like we can actually pay it back. I mean, who really cares about all of these things right?

HOW DARE THEY!: How dare someone try to cut the spending in this nation, WE ARE ENTITLED TO IT! How dare Republicans give in to the "EXTREME" demands of only a small portion of the American people (a measley 56% of the Americans who want spending to be reduced at the Federal Level). How dare anyone try to go against our liberal agenda which includes trying to increase the size of government and spend our way to prosperity. How dare they question us. How dare they try to save our childrens futures by reducing the spending at the federal level. How dare anyone stand up to UNIONS who are paid by the tax payers. Politicians are the bosses, NOT the American People. How dare anyone try to get in the way of our attempt to create a utopian society using early 20th century ideologies referred to as progressivism. How dare they try to stop us from feeding the poor, even if we are using their money. How dare they, IT IS NOT the hard working Americans that pay the taxes that should be thanked and credited for helping to feed the poor, it is the politicians that deserve all the credit for using other peoples money to feed the poor, the POLITICIANS are the ones who have to make the tough decisions. How dare the evil rich people of this nation complain about their wealth going to support UNIONS and Obama supporters. How dare anyone complain about exemptions made from the new Health Care overhall that have been made for larger companies and Obama supporters. How dare anyone complain about these things.

Warning: The comments above include a hint of sarcasm.

Eric Cantor is very worried about the soldiers being paid, but he's made sure that HE and his fellow Congressmen will be paid EVEN IF THE SOLDIERS AREN'T.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced S.388 on 2/17/2011-- To prohibit Members of Congress and the President from receiving pay during Government shutdowns.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously on March 1st, but it's been referred to committee in the House - so THEY STILL GET THEIR CHECKS!

If you don't like your Congressman getting paid while he shuts down the rest of the government, please contact the members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform:

Oversight and Government Reform 112th Congress Committee Membership

Republicans
Democrats

Rep. Darrell E. Issa (CA-49), Chairman

Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-7), Ranking Member

Rep. Dan Burton (IN-05)

Rep. Edolphus Towns (NY-10)

Rep. John L. Mica (FL-07)

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14)

Rep. Todd Platts (PA-19)
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.)

Rep. Michael Turner (OH-03)

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH-10)

Rep. Patrick T. McHenry (NC-10)

Rep. John Tierney (MA-6)

Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04)

Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-1)

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT-03)

Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-9)

Rep. Connie Mack (FL-14)
Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5)

Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-7)
Rep. Gerald Connolly (VA-11)

Rep. James Lankford (OK-5)
Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-5)

Rep. Justin Amash (MI-3)
Rep. Danny Davis (IL-7)

Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25)
Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-1)

Dr. Paul Gosar (AZ-1)
Rep. Peter Welch (VT-At Large)

Rep. Raul Labrador (ID-1)
Rep. John Yarmuth (KY-3)

Rep. Pat Meehan (PA-7)
Rep. Christoper Murphy (CT-5)

Dr. Scott DesJarlais (TN-4)
Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-12)

Rep. Joe Walsh (IL-8)

Rep. Trey Gowdy (SC-4)

Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-12)

Rep. Frank Guinta (NH-1)

Rep. Blake Farenthold (TX-27)

Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-3)

Thanks for looking out for....yourself, GOP!

@lOUISj,

rEPUBLITHUGS? Now if that isn't the kettle calling the pot black. Haven't the progressives used this strategy for years now?

Why, didn't Nancy and Harry recently use this during budget season? So, without providing a budget as the law required, you blame Republicans for doing what the Dems would not?

OK, now please call me a racist.

Don't forget women. Why do republicans hate women?

Matt,

That's the way these Tea Baggers think. It's mostly people that now feel like they are for once in their lives, big shots.

Mathew...

What type of facts do you have to label an entire group as haters? I bet you don't have anything and you really like to speculate. Shame you can't back any of that up, but you are a typical liberal! :)

Matthew,Houston,

I'm a small buisiness owner & a middle class american, hurten for work, Republican...I don't see or feel what you do...are you sure your a small buisiness owner & in the middle class? or....do you, like most people here, only read from one side of the aisle, not both sides... to form your own opinion?

Just wondering......

James, if the republicans didn't hate all these people they wouldn't be trying to cut funding for programs that help them (head start, education, planned parenthood, medicare, medicaid, social security and many other programs) instead they would focus on cuts that could be agreed upon by both sides, without trying to hold hostage everything (like they did with the tax cuts-if the dems didn't agree to keep the tax cuts for the top then no one would get to keep the tax cuts and they said they wouldn't vote on anything else)

They could also look to cut where it wouldn't hurt the majority of Americans, like defense, foreign aid, subsidies to corporations that do not need them. Why should Americans subsidize (give money to) corporations that make record profits? How about Congress cutting their salaries, pay into their pensions and put in for their health insurance. Who would that hurt? Most Americans have to pay into these things why should they be different And isn't it interesting that if there is a government shutdown they would still get paid but the lowly federal janitor would not. Who do you think could afford to miss a paycheck more?

The programs they are looking to cut are based on their "moral and religious" objections to these programs nothing to do with the budget. They think since they can't get the law changed they will just underfund it essentially eliminating it.

Everyone agrees that cuts need to be made and revenue increased. The debate is about where to cut. Personally I think that the tax cuts should have been let to expire. I am a single, lower middle class person that this would greatly affect but I am willing to sacrifice for the better of our country--why aren't republicans willing to do that? They just cut what doesn't affect them and what they morally object to.

This is why people feel that they hate because what they want to do is heartless. I don't think it will accomplish what they want it to. When you cut programs that help the poor survive, what you end up with is more homeless, desperate people. Please explain how that helps this country? So if it is not going to accomplish what they are using for reasons to do this, what are their motives?

Matthew: The Rethuglicans don't hate middle America, they just don't have any use for it so long as they can buy elections through huge corporate donations to manupulate the masses for votes. Everyone seems to forget the Supreme Court ruling about corporate America being given the "blank check" to donate to all their favorite politicians. That's why we're seeing such a sea of change within the Rethuglican attitude. No WONDER they're pro-business, wait til we start seeing some of the ads that will be airing in support of this Rethug and that Rethug.

To boot? They won't have to reveal who's paying for it! This is some effed up sh*t and all the Teabaggin idiots are falling for some of the dumbest economic lies I've ever seen in my life. If half of these idiots understood basic finance and the other knew how to critically think, the Teabaggers wouldn't exist.

The only groups that seem to have common hatred for other groups are the far left liberals as indicated by posts like these. Just keep pushing undecided and independant voters away. Real smart.

"Why don't you guys like small-business people?" asked Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif.

Ahh, the irony of my post being collapsed, called a sound bite, etc.

Ewll said, Andie469. Thank-you.

Dems weren't thrown out of office in November to be compromised with now, if they still can't listen to the people 2012 and 2014 will be repeat disasters for them.

pjam09 - You forget one small thing. The Democrats retained the Senate and they have the Presidency. That's 2/3rds of the legislature right there. The House has to compromise because they can't dictate the terms of legislation that affects 100% of the American people. They don't have absoulte rule. What part of the Republicans are not in charge do you not understand?

The democrats met them halfway. That's how this whole thing is supposed to work with divided government right?

The money isn't the issue, it's the 65 riders that run completely counter to the Democratic parties platform that are the problem.

If they vote for this bill they would be voting against everything their party stands for. It's like putting a bill calling for repeal of the second amendment, legalization of gay marriage, unlimited funding for abortions and stuff in front of the Republicans and expecting them to sign it. It ain't gonna happen.

Which is why those riders are in there. The Republicans are ENSURING that the bill doesn't get passed by making it unsupportable for Democrats.

To make it clear and simple

The Republicans have halted this bill themselves, and are using it to force a shutdown.

Dems were defeated on the promises of addressing the high unemployment and economic conditions. However, they lied as usual and are now attaching their social issues to legislation that is vital to the well being of the country. In other words, they are trying to blackmail and bully the president into signing on to something that has nothing to do with jobs or the economy. Remove the social issues from the bills and they pass with no problems. Keep those issues attached and they are vetoed, and rightfully so. Most americans with common sense can see what the republicans are trying to do. Too bad you can't.

Norwester - I voted Democratic and 2006 and 2008, but switched to mainly Republican in 2010...by far, my main issue was and is the deficit. So, from my perspective, the Republicans are doing what I asked for. I do agree with you on the policy riders...these should be removed for now and added to the 2012 budget debate.

As to jobs and the recovery...consumer and business confidence is a large part of any recovery. The deficit and debt levels we have now (and are projected over the next 10 years) negatively impact that confidence. Therefore, showing fiscal constrain does help with jobs and the recovery - at least in my opinion.

Still, when the Democrats are calling $60 billion in cuts in a multi-trillion dollar budget "draconian", they lose me completely...I want to see hundreds of billions in cuts. (I also think tax increases are needed - but I want to see government cut first - otherwise tax increases will probably just exasperate the problem)

Pjam, give examples of concessions republicans have made in the budget process.......NADA.

The polls yesterday say it all, republicans want to stand firm, its democrats who want to compromise. Americans want and expect compromise. The gains made by republicans in the last election will be reversed.

@laurie - The President and the Senate = The Executive and 1/2 of the Legislature, not 2/3s of the Legislature. In other words, the Presidency is not a part of the Legislature, it is its own distinct branch of our government.

Ron, if those issues are so important to the republicans why does it have to be attached to any budget, why can't they be stand alone bills? It is on purpose because that way they can say dems are bad they don't want to cut anything.

I think they called the cuts draconian for what they want to cut not cutting itself. It is draconian if you cut programs that help ALOT of Americans survive. When you cut these programs what happens? People that these programs help no longer have money to pay rent, buy food, go to the doctor etc. These things stir the economy but mor importantly than that we would then end up with many homeless people, more hungry people, more desperate people. When people can't afford housing they end up living on the street. Would you be willing to have a "tent city" in your neighborhood?

In case anyone's interested, here's the Republican Tea Party's "riders" in their proposed one-week budget bill:

Policy Riders in H.R. 1

The following are brief descriptions and locations of provisions included in the continuing resolution (H.R.1) passed by the House of Representatives on Feb. 19, 2011.

These provisions appear in the introduced version of the bill and in subsequently approved amendments.

This list is not comprehensive.

www.ombwatch.org/files/budget/OMB_Watch-HR1_Policy_Riders.pdf

Republicans control 1/2 of 1/3 of the gov't. Even when the Democrats controlled all 3 they couldn't get things like this done. If all they're going to do is make excuses for not doing their job, maybe you guys should vet the Democrat candidates more than "oh good, it has a (D) by their name".

go for it pjam ... in 2011 when china wants there money .. the money Bush and the repubs borrowed to get us into this mess .. see how many repubs hold onto a seat in congress or the senate

The reason that no budget was passed for this year was because the party of NO filibustered the original attempt. It sure is too bad that Senator Kennedy died when he did, can you imagine all the good that us liberals could have done if he had lasted another 18 months??? I'm looking forward to 2012 myself, when the Democrats win back the House in a landslide, sending the party of big money for the rich at the expense of everyone else back to China and Paraguay where they belong. Just think, that big tax cut for the rich is going to expire and become a huge issue during the next election cycle!!! You Republicants think that the tax cut is going to be extended again? Not!!!

Laurie, The President is part of the Executive Branch

The Vice President presides over the Senate and can cast a tiebreaker vote, but he is also part of the Executive Branch

Fizzeled, The Senate is part of the Legislative Branch along with the house that combines make up Congress.

The Supreme Court is the third Branch

So the Republicans control 1/2 of 1/3 of the Federal government as Allen stated.

Do they not teach Civics anymore?

Old Timer, change your name to Old Misinformed Bigot, that would be more accurate, Obama has borrowed so much from the Chinese thay have actually protested officially and told us they hate us for how much we borrowed for the stimulus.

Timewonttell, you do ont khow what you are talking about, the only huge deficits under Bush were at the contrl of a Dmocrat congress, and Obama has borrowed 4 times as much and did not good with it.

OK. Enough of this filibuster crap Old-timer. If you are capable of reading, read the Senate rules. Budgetary items are not bound by the 60 vote cloture rules. Since there were 59 Dems after the Massachussetts Massacre, 9 Dems would have had to oppose the proposed budget (assuming of course there was a proposed budget, which there wasn't). Blaming it on the party of No is fine, as long as you remember that the party of No was the Dems in charge. Please move on and find another talking point. The one you've been using doesn't hold water.

THANK YOU mkindenver, I had to correct so much BS I forgot to get to that one.

The "drama queens" in Washington, are out in full force when ever they think a camera is rolling. Every time John Boehner, Mitch McConnell and Eric Cantor rant and rave about how Americans sent them to reform the budget, you see the dim-witted freshman congressmen, standing behind Boohoo Boehner. All of them, shaking their heads, like a bobble-head dolls. Yeah! Yeah! Let's shut down the government, they sing, like the Beavus and Butthead chorus. What a bunch of Bungholes! (A hole made in a cask of wine.)

The Republicans have had years, to balance a budget and have never done it once. Now, that President Obama and the Senate Democrats, are in a position of power; the Republicans want to play the victims. John Boehner, can cry me a river, he is not fooling anyone, except maybe "Chris Mathews," (Sorry Chris) regarding his bogus concerns to have "drastic cuts" to the budget. He wants the government to shut down. Of course, they made sure the wealthiest people, got a tax cut, for the next two years. Boehner and his posse, have only one primary concern, their financial backers. You know, the Koch Kooks and the rest of those filthy rich people, who want the middle class to do all the work, while they steal our money.

Republicans should have read the Tea leaves, when they let the right wing conservatives, call the shots in the last election. Now, the GOP will HAVE TO drink the foul brew of oolong or Earl Grey, and follow (TP) toilet paper agenda or lose their over-paid jobs, in two years. Foolishly, the right believes, the Republicans have control of the house, as a referendum. Actually, it was the left base, staying home, on election day, that gave the GOP a leg up, in the House. The Democrats will come out in droves, in 2011 and 2012 because, the future of middle class is at stake. Republican governors, are literally wiping their feet, on the backs of the working class. They have awoken a sleeping giant.

The Republicans have already given the Ultra rich a huge tax cut and actually, a refund. While the middle class is paying for the privilege of the privileged, to drain our wallets dry. Soonthe pendulum will swing back to the left and with it, I hope the Koch brothers, Trump and jokers like Limbaugh, find out what it is like, to actually get a job. I would love to see them work until the sweat rolls off their backs and their manicured hands get grimy.

The next two years will be exciting except for those in the Military who will not get paid until the GOP stops with their bully tactics. It is so sad, the ones who deserve the most, are the very ones who receive the least. I would love to see military spending slashed to the bone. But not for our soldiers. I would like for the to be able to split all the money from the 400 wealthiest people in the United States. What a wonderful way to thank our soldiers. And what a wonderful way to tell the ultra rich, to get a JOB!

For the last time, Republicans, stop trying to abolish womens issues and get back to work.

Mr. Boehner, where are the jobs?

The GOP has their whole economic theory UPSIDE DOWN and DEAD WRONG. The reason tax revenues have plummeted is NOT because America is broke. Both corporate profits and GDP are ABOVE where they were in 2007.

So why is there no tax revenue coming in? Because the money isn't going to WAGES, it's being siphoned off by the investor class. (See the chart)

When workers are paid wages, 100% of that money goes back into the economy. They pay both income taxes and payroll taxes (which account for 36% of U.S. tax revenue), and they spend the rest on goods and services right here in America.

But when the money earned for corporations by their workers is instead diverted to corporate profits and the investor class, tax revenues plummet (NOT grow, as Paul Ryan so history-blindedly predicts). Despite their vastly higher income levels, corporations' share of the tax burden is only 12% due to their vast amounts of tax writeoffs, credits and creative accounting. Both investors and corporations are more likely to move their earnings overseas (into either tax shelters or foreign investments). And foreign entities also hold a big share of the stock market, diverting corporate profits abroad before the American tax system gets a penny.

The investor class also pays an historically low tax rate of 15% on their earnings, as most are capital gains. And neither corporations nor investors pay payroll taxes, a factor which alone knocks a huge hole in the tax rolls. Even when investors do pay earned income tax rates on a portion of their income, those top tax rates are at their lowest since the 1930's. U.S. tax revenues as a percentage of GDP are far lower than many countries whose economies are recovering faster than ours.

The GOP solution? Cut off all the remaining government services that benefit the working class. Cut the top tax rate even lower. Drive wages down even further.

Then pray the fat cats grow a heretofore unseen conscience and give a little of it back.

Are we really that stupid????

Eric Cantor is very worried about the soldiers being paid, but he's made sure that HE and his fellow Congressmen will be paid EVEN IF THE SOLDIERS AREN'T.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced S.388 on 2/17/2011-- To prohibit Members of Congress and the President from receiving pay during Government shutdowns.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously on March 1st, but it's been referred to committee in the House - so THEY STILL GET THEIR CHECKS!

If you don't like your Congressman getting paid while he shuts down the rest of the government, please contact the members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform:

Oversight and Government Reform 112th Congress Committee Membership

Republicans

Rep. Darrell E. Issa (CA-49), Chairman

Rep. Dan Burton (IN-05)

Rep. John L. Mica (FL-07)

Rep. Todd Platts (PA-19)

Rep. Michael Turner (OH-03)

Rep. Patrick T. McHenry (NC-10)

Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04)

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT-03)

Rep. Connie Mack (FL-14)

Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-7)

Rep. James Lankford (OK-5)

Rep. Justin Amash (MI-3)

Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25)

Dr. Paul Gosar (AZ-1)

Rep. Raul Labrador (ID-1)

Rep. Pat Meehan (PA-7)

Dr. Scott DesJarlais (TN-4)

Rep. Joe Walsh (IL-8)

Rep. Trey Gowdy (SC-4)

Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-12)

Rep. Frank Guinta (NH-1)

Rep. Blake Farenthold (TX-27)

Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-3)

Democrats

Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-7), Ranking Member

Rep. Edolphus Towns (NY-10)

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14)

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.)

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH-10)

Rep. John Tierney (MA-6)

Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-1)

Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-9)

Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5)

Rep. Gerald Connolly (VA-11)

Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-5)

Rep. Danny Davis (IL-7)

Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-1)

Rep. Peter Welch (VT-At Large)

Rep. John Yarmuth (KY-3)

Rep. Christoper Murphy (CT-5)

Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-12)

Thanks for looking out for....yourself, GOP!

The House bill to deny pay to Congress if they shut down the government is H.R.819.  You can track its progress here.

ALRIGHT OBAMA!!!!!! Way to show them who is boss! Don't take no for an answer, they MUST SUBMIT TO YOUR WILL. I don't care what those Republicans say, never back down. We need to spend more, not less! What is up with all of these EXTREME cuts these people are trying to make in our budget? I mean come on, it's not like the nation is broke or anything!

WHO CARES?: Who cares that our nation is $14 TRILLION in debt! Who cares that we currently spend $1.6 TRILLION more than we take in each year! Who cares that we are on the path to be $20 TRILLION in debt by 2015! Who cares that every tax payer owes $128,000 in order for us to pay off our National Debt. Who cares that our unfunded liabilities are at $1,019,000 PER TAX PAYER and we will never be able to afford these liabilities. Who cares that it is pretty much mathematically impossible to pay off our debt ever. Who cares that by not getting something passed that our soldiers will not get a paycheck until something is passed. Who cares that most of us (Republican or Democrat) are biased in our opinions and will support our side of the line no matter how wrong they may be, kind of like a sports fan who will support his team and argue every call the ref makes no matter how hard his team may foul. Who cares that Hillary Clinton herself said that our national debt could be our biggest security threat. Who cares that we are CURRENTLY spending at a rate that is faster than more than 40 other presidents spent COMBINED. Who cares if this nation falls apart and we all lose our freedoms due to some minor spending problems......okay, MAJOR SPENDING PROBLEMS. Who cares that 47% of the people in this nation pay nothing in federal taxes and can vote to keep those in power who will keep it that way. Who cares about debt anyway, it's not like we can actually pay it back. I mean, who really cares about all of these things right?

HOW DARE THEY!: How dare someone try to cut the spending in this nation, WE ARE ENTITLED TO IT! How dare Republicans give in to the "EXTREME" demands of only a small portion of the American people (a measley 56% of the Americans who want spending to be reduced at the Federal Level). How dare anyone try to go against our liberal agenda which includes trying to increase the size of government and spend our way to prosperity. How dare they question us. How dare they try to save our childrens futures by reducing the spending at the federal level. How dare anyone stand up to UNIONS who are paid by the tax payers. Politicians are the bosses, NOT the American People. How dare anyone try to get in the way of our attempt to create a utopian society using early 20th century ideologies referred to as progressivism. How dare they try to stop us from feeding the poor, even if we are using their money. How dare they, IT IS NOT the hard working Americans that pay the taxes that should be thanked and credited for helping to feed the poor, it is the politicians that deserve all the credit for using other peoples money to feed the poor, the POLITICIANS are the ones who have to make the tough decisions. How dare the evil rich people of this nation complain about their wealth going to support UNIONS and Obama supporters. How dare anyone complain about exemptions made from the new Health Care overhall that have been made for larger companies and Obama supporters. How dare anyone complain about these things.

Warning: The comments above include a hint of sarcasm

It is a sad day for America when we only have two major parties and they only plan for their re-election, Not for the welfare and interests of USA citizens, Shame on BOTH parties to run up such an immense debt with NO plan for re=paying it. The Democratic party was in control of the Senate,House of Representatives last October 2010 yet they didn`t present a budget. I ask you WHY??? Is it because of their desire to pass the buck to the Republicans??? We need another Party that looks out for the wishes of the citizens, NOT for themselves.. In my opinion the members of Congress and their staff and appointees should only have the same benefits that the citizens have--NO SPECIAL HEALTH CARE, NO PAID FOR PENSIONS,LIMITED EXPENSE ACCOUNTS, FULL DISCLOSURE OF ALL GIFTS (?) and many other perks. We need term limits, and age limits for members of Congress AND the Supreme Court.

Old Timer - there was never a budget even constructed in committee. What was philibustered was a continuing resolution on Defense appropriations bill, along with other appropriations bills, and unemployment funding because the democrats were just writing checks without consideration of where the money was coming from.

Think about it - should you be re-elected after allowing deficits to triple? - especially after 8 years of blaming Bush and the Republicans for spending well over the top.

Take that back.

"The Republicans have had years, to balance a budget and have never done it once"

The republicans were the only ones to ever balance the budget since WW2. They did it while Clinton was president when they had control of the legislature and made the budget.

It amazes me how uneducated the left is that it has no clue of history and ignores the fact that in the last 3 years the dems have nearly destroyed the economy with the highest deficit spending since WW2. The dems have spent more in less than 3 years than the republicans did in 6 under Bush, yet they continue to ignore that inconvenient truth.

Jess-1177200

MGinRochester...

You sound like a GOP member during the healthcare debate. LOL!!! I was on most of those posting boards. I don't recall you calling for compromise with the GOP on any of them. Why the change of heart all of a sudden? Oh I get it... You don't get your way w/o having to compromise anymore. No worries. We get it. ROFL!! :)

What are you talking about and in what language are you saying it? There was no need for me to call for the democrats to compromise with the GOP during the health care debate -- because the democrats DID compromise. They compromised and compromised until the final bill ended up looking remarkably similar to Mitt Romney's health care plan.

Like many democrats, I actually wanted a public plan option in the health care bill. The democrats compromised by getting rid of it. (That was just one of many compromises from the democrats. Can you name one from the republicans?) The GOP did absolutely NOTHING during the health care debate except constipate our legislative branch.

Pay for your own health care. The dems lock the repubs out of the discussion during the debates and passed a plan that has so many loopholes for special interests that it will be found unconstitutional. Just watch. Oh, it already has been in 26 states. LOL

thing is they want to stay in office and independent moderates like me don't like ideology from either, but mostly from the Tea Party side tbh. Ideology while find and dandy go galvanize a movement does not work in governing a country when you have an opposition with thier own ideology.

Swallow their dieology for the nation and move on to the next politcal battle.

Ivolving 320 million innocent americans is irresponsible on both side, but from my point of view the TP/GOP intractable views and cut it or shut it chants turn me away from them and vote them out of office as easily as the were voted in.

Just saying... nothing lasts forever, even the Tea party Movement.

Keeth22 - Precisely.....They don't get it yet that no one gets 100% of what they want in a negotiation. That's why it's called that.

If the Republicans had anything resembling integrity, they'd pass a CR funding the troups without poison pills attached. They're holding our troops and their families hostage over an extreme ideology, and it's sickening.

Look what happens in Wisconsin when people pay attention.

No SB, they really don't give a @!$%# about the troops at all. They aren't even trying to get an ideological peice of legislation through. They know the bill is a loser, they knew it wasn't going anywhere from the start. It wasn't supposed too.

They are simply trying to gain public sympathy and cast the Democrats in a negative light. That's all.

And the troops not getting paid is just icing on the cake for them.

LMAO @ integrity

Everyone in Washington is guilty. Repubs, Dems are just destroying this country and only care about their party. They do not care about this country. Only putting cash in their wallets. Enough of both these parties. Obama all the way down are responsible. How about taking the money you make when the shut down comes and give all the money to help feed the homeless and families that really need the help. How about doing something for this country aside from trying to out do the other dumb@$$ party is doing. Worry about your own party and how you are destroying the US. No one in Washington should make over 45,000.00. Then we would really see who cares about this country and not the crooked lobbyists putting cash in their hands.

laurie-480643

Keeth22 - Precisely.....They don't get it yet that no one gets 100% of what they want in a negotiation.

You do realize it takes 2 entities to reach a disagreement, right? How is it you see this as the fault of only 1 party when the other party are the ones who caused this mess by not passing the budget LAST YEAR?

The Republican Tea Party in the House of Reps should quit while they're ahead. They're making far too many demands in their resolve to be unyielding. Governor Walker in Wisconsin did that, and now look at the mess he's gotten himself into. He, like the Tea Party he supports, asked for -- no, I take that back, they demand -- too much. And when I mean "too much" in regards to this issue of the HR1, just read the RIDERS the House Republicans keep inserting into their proposed bill. This may be one big set out of the numerous reasons why the President is threatening to veto it.

John 1894652 hit it on the head! That is what some of the Tea Party wants! So sad this uprising has happened because of his color. They mask the racism with phoney ideology that makes no sense. All they say is they want less spending and they don't bring any solutions. They are extremist that are scared the country has a little more color than they want!

Bullying the way into bad choices for America is not the way to go. The tea party needs to understand this when Obama vetos the bill and rightfully so. Hope all you tea partyers are waiting for your tax refund when the lights go out in DC!

Lets get real here people, CUTTING PROGRAM FUNDING = CUTTING JOBS, in the eight years the republicans were in charge, I don't recall the budget EVER being balanced.

In fact, President Bush wiped out the budget surplus that President Clinton created and added millions to the budget every year he was in office.

The fact of the matter is we are in debt because President Obama, added TWO WARS to the budget that President Bush DID NOT, neither war was budget for. That is why we have a 1.4 trillion dollar deficit not because of funding programs that this county needed to keep us out of a depression.

We are not broke, we have several corporation who make millions some billions in profit and not pay a dime in taxes (some even have received tax refunds), and at the same time not hire, in fact some lay off workers and/or put a freeze on hiring. So not only are Corporations not investing in our economy the workers who would be paying federal taxes are not able to invest in our economy either.

If every corporation that profit at least 1 million paid 2 percent in taxes, the government would see an increase of $2000 in revenue coming in.

There was no surplus, look it up! treas.gov 2% of $1M is $20K. And who knows what 8 years you are talking about.

If there were no surplus, why are Republicans bragging about how they helped Clinton to balance the budget and get the surplus? Are you saying they are lying? Listen to Morning Joe and other Republicans sometimes.

Look it up! And yes those Republicans are lying!

Thanks for pointing out that all the Republicans during the Clinton era are liars.

Those would be the zealot Republicans who cannot admit fault with the Republican side., because they know good ole Newt Gingrich was leading the bandwagon for Clinto to gut the Social Secutiry surpluses (something he's not supposed to do) to pay down public debt, ans essentially "fake" a surplus. And if you have a "surplus", then it stands to reason that you also have a balanced budget. Both are wrong. Anyone willing to look up what are believed to be the major causes of our economic collapse and the REAL economic indicators of the time know most of it happened under Clinton, and that when he handed over the reins to Bush, we had a negative GDP, the single largest indicator of impending economic collapse. Both sides have their zealots that will hold dear so tightly to their beliefs as to not talk down their party. I'm not one of them, and from debating Fletch on here, even though he's half creazy sometimes, he isn't either.

dirp101...

You are mostly correct except for the programs that the folks paid into. Those programs such as SS, medicare, VA, and of course RR retirement (the same as SS), is protected (but should be reformed for the future).

Try again with some new lies....

Just Saying...

TPfan: there is no such thing as "protected." If it can be created by legislation, it can be destroyed by legislation.

I think the plan is not to kill anything, just outsource it all to private business. That way, you can kill it simply by not renewing the government contracts. And at the same time, you can give money to your friends. Examples: Halliburton, Blackwater. Up next: Medicare, Medicaid.

dirp101, I just became a fan! You're absolutely right about everything!

Absolutely right about everything? Those are all baseless accusations without any provable data. It's nothing but hate speech. Just wait til the Democrats start accusing the right of causing Grandma to have to eat dog food. It's coming. Hopefully you can prove you're not just cheerleading for a team and actually stick to those ideologies of thinking it's bad behavior to make accusations like that for political gain.

Somehow I doubt it though.

GOP Uses Budget Subterfuge In Latest Social Security Privatization Plot

This past week Cantor said, “50% of beneficiaries under the Social Security program use those moneys as their sole source of income. So we’ve got to protect today’s seniors. But for the rest of us? Listen, we’re going to have to come to grips with the fact that these programs cannot exist if we want America to be what we want America to be.” Although Cantor acknowledges half of retirees subsist on their Social Security income alone, his grand plan for the future is to eliminate the only source of income for millions of Americans. The disturbing part of Cantor’s statement is that if Social Security is allowed to continue, America will not be the country Republicans want it to be.

Dems should have done their job last year.

Hey BS..

They tried, but the party of no said no, remember?

repeat after me and get this through your head and get over it already

it was the Senate Minority GOP that prevented that from happening. It was the GOP who requested one postponement of the budget debate after another all summer and into fall. It was the GOP which filibustered, blocked, denied any real debate on the budget

Cynthia - the Democrats had the House until January. If they wanted to, they could have sent a budget to the Senate last year, but they chose not to because they didn't want to risk losing votes in the election. I realize the Republicans could have filibustered in the Senate, but since the Democrats didn't take any action in the House, nothing got to the Senate.

Sorry Brad, but when you have majorities in both houses of congress and the President is your party's man, how can you blame a minorty who couldn't stop anything? Seems the party of no came from within the Demoncrap party. Any other myths you want to put out there?

How can a bill be blocked by republicans when Democrates don't need there vote to pass a bill as was the case last year when the Dems were in power they should have passed the spending bill they wanted then instead of waiting until Jan and saying that republics won't budge. They rammed Obama care down our throats didn't they.

MD Rethug: Meet MD Independent. The party of NO is most definitely the Republicans. They're the most manipulative, propagandizing party of the two. As a FORMER Republican who sees what my FORMER party has become, which equates to the complete selling out and becoming the biggest party whores I've ever seen.

The religious thing the repubs embraced back in the 80s has always been a cover. Just like the Westboro Church members who hide behind religion to perpetrate the sins they do, so does the Rethuglican party. Ya'll have sold your souls to the devil. Glad I'm no longer one of you, because I certainly saw the light seven years ago when I dumped the party of "drunk on power."

Maryland Republican----where were you for the past 2 years, didn't you see the record number of filibusters by the republicans? How can you possibly say " a minority who couldn't stop anything" they stopped almost everything!

Ron, the House passed the budget to the Senate in July 2010. Please pay attention.

Maryland Republican, do you have a clue of what a filibuster is? If not, google it and learn how in the US Senate one person, let alone one Party, can stop anything including a vote on a budget that passed the House in July 2010.

Just for kicks watch the movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" where Jimmy Stewart stopped the entire Senate with a one-man filibuster.

If a party is just 1 vote short of supermajority and can't get anything done, I wouldn't be advertising you're backing them. It's shameful.

If saying "NO" is so bad, why are the Democrats saying no now? Talking points make no sense when you try to apply any logic to them.

I have voted for both parties and wanted to research the argument above. By looking at Google news results for that time period it looks like Cynthia was right and the Republican Minority filibustered to prevent a law from being passed.

"Although Democrats have majorities in both chambers, as of Monday, they will have only 58 seats in the Senate, which requires 60 votes to overcome filibusters that have blocked virtually every substantial piece of legislation this year. Leading GOP senators have said they aren't inclined to compromise on spending and tax issues because they view their party's Nov. 2 victories as a mandate to avoid compromise

-

I am curious if anyone has any information that says something else?

OK. Enough of this filibuster crap Libs. If you are capable of reading, read the Senate rules. Budgetary items are not bound by the 60 vote cloture rules. Since there were 59 Dems after the Massachussetts Massacre, 9 Dems would have had to oppose the proposed budget (assuming of course there was a proposed budget, which there wasn't). Blaming it on the party of No is fine, as long as you remember that the party of No was the Dems in charge. Please move on and find another talking point. The one you've been using doesn't hold water. There was no filibuster, there was NO budget. That makes the Dems the party of NO budget.

I'm reposting this comment made as a reply from "Heartlight3" to "Ward":

-----------------------------------------------------------

Heartlight3

Ward - The 2011 Budget was deemed passed in the House but it could not be brought to the floor for discussion in the Senate due to Republican filibusters. Some say, they could have used reconciliation, but reconciliation is used on the final vote to pass a bill after debate. Since it never even got to the floor for discussion, it could not be voted on.

Health care was passed through reconciliation only after it had been negotiated for a year and people were so sick of all the holds and filibusters that they finally allowed debate on the floor because it was clear the Dems were going to keep fighting for it.

I don't know where you could have been these last two years to have missed hearing about the obstructive tactics employed by the Republicans. The only things that got passed were things the Dems were able to get past the Republican obstruction brigade. That's where all the back room deals that everyone was so upset about came from.

1
Vote for this comment.
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#2.8 - Wed Apr 6, 2011 11:49 AM HST

Democrats had a super majority for all of 6 months, during those 6 month, Ted Kennedy and another senator couldn't vote so nothing could've been pass.

....cept Obamacare........I love how they can use the "We didn't have the majority" excuse when they don't get something done, then pass a turd like Obamacare. No one is buying it anymore.

Out with the fog of controversy!

Unfortunately, the normal definition of "compromise" up there is to fund everything. That's what got us in this mess in the first place.

bs

What got us into this mess was the Bush adminstration not paying attention to Wall Street. And passing new tax breaks that where not paid for by cutting cost, and Wars, Medicare etc, etc.

To a Democrat, the term compromise means the Republicans capitulate to the Dems demands.

But tlg, no one remembers what the Tea Party did 3 weeks ago. No one remembers anything for a few weeks and especially a few years. For example, does anyone remember that Bill Clinton actually left us with a budget surplus and once the Republicans won the White House and controlled Congress, we watched them drive this country into the ground?

"Duh... that was Obama and Pelosi."

THAT'S how the Republicans get away with everything. No one pays attention. All they care about is ideology.

"Let's vote Republican because they're against abortion and so is Jesus."

They are? They controlled Congress for 10 years. The controlled the White House for 8 years. They've controlled the Supreme Court forever. Did they EVER do anything about abortion?

"Duh..but they're against abortion, so that's who I vote for."

Meanwhile they're picking your pocket, giving it to someone who makes more than you and all of your friends while cutting the programs that teach your kid to read, help your mother pay for prescription drugs, and teach you to think for yourself.

What got us into this mess is both parties spending like drunken sailors, and the rest of us kept re-electing them to office. We're all to blame and now we all have to step up and do what's needed to get our fiscal house in order - or wait for things to come crashing down hard like Greece and Portugal. Of course, nobody is big enough to bail out the US, so it will be much worse here than in Greece and Portugal.

Ron, I agree but the drunken sailor was actually an Air Force reservist who decided that the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan need not be in the budget. Obama, to his credit, said every expenditure will be in the budget and his reward? "Obama doubles the deficit!"

Simple Facts
Do you really fall for talking points that easily or are you just really biggoted enough to take a few talking points and apply it to everyone who doesn't vote the way you do? People like you are how people like Hitler got away with mass murdering Jews by spreading propaganda about how they should hate them.

You really need to expand your horizons on where you get your "news".

Allen, you want to accuse people of equating their talking points with your talking points about Hitler and spreading propaganda.

Funny you should mention that.

Recall this bit of news?

Tea Party Republican dresses up like Nazi Waffen SS!

By Brent Budowsky - 10/11/10 11:39 AM ET

If you Google "candidate wears Nazi uniform," you would probably guess it would be a Tea Party favorite, a Republican, and someone once called "a rising star in the GOP.” If you did guess this, you would be right!

We refer, of course, to Rich Lott, the Republican nominee for a congressional seat in Ohio, a Tea Party darling and a fellow who gets his jollies dressing up as a Nazi SS officer! Where do they find these guys?

To be fair to Lott, he does not endorse the Waffen SS policies, he merely holds profound admiration for their fighting abilities, and enjoys parading up imagined battlefields, jackboot on foot, Republican policies in mind.

What did Sharron Angle mean when she talked about Second Amendment solutions and "taking out" political opponents?

Does Rand Paul support the full Civil Rights Act, or parts of it, and does he believe that racist policies of private-sector policies are legally allowed?

bsdetector, did you go off on your statements there? Must have been bells, whistles, and fireworks on that load of bs.

DenverYo, are you the kettle that called the pot black? Must be, because your statement sounds exactly like the Republicans hard line..."no compromise!" Remember Bachmann & Pence saying those exact same words?

Do you two really think that by deflecting the actions of the Republicans onto the Democrats that the Independents, like me, will be somehow be confused into believing such rubbish? Hopefully, neither of you is that naive (or that separated from reality).

The easiest solution would be to split the desired cuts in half, have each of the parties decide where, and how much to cut, from THEIR OWN pet projects (and, not the oppositions pet projects). As long as the process continues to be used for political attacks on the opposition, nothing will get done, nobody will agree on anything (unless they happen to be masochistic), and we the people will lose.

33 billion from a 1.6 trillion dollar deficit?.......f#ck compromise...............figure out how to cut a 1.6 trillion dollar deficit before the Chinese show you how the hard way. Start by ending the wars and sending them a bill for our costs. Then cut the DoD in half. Flat tax 10%......individuals and corporations. Then onto reforming SS....to be based on the model used in Galveston TX when they opted out of SS, If you don't know about it.......google it.

Oh no, Rick. We can't touch SS, even though Galveston is rich as hell because they opted out and invested. The Democrats believe people are too stupid to take care of their own money, and the government is better at it.

ARAPIKOS...

Read the US constitution much? Apparently the dems did and suddenly discovered that the 27th admendment would not allow them to stop the legislators pay. TOOOOO BAAAD!!! Lets just vote them out next time...

Just Saying...

Funny how the republicans only care about the national debt when a democrat is in the white house huh? None of Bush's wars or tax cuts were paid for and ended up adding 5.5 trillion to the debt. But oddly enough the republicans didnt care.. How strange, huh?

What is also amazing is the fact that no one addresses how many jobs the Bush spending created. Could this possibly have masked the non-government connected jobs that were being lost? Hmmm... the thing about spending is at the end of the day, people get the money (not robots) and pay tax on it.... Hmmmm.... as far as middle class, for every dollar spent, $.30 goes right back to the government in the form of taxes (off the top) plus the taxes accrued when products are purchased. So realistically, the government may get almost 50% of what is spent back (from a human resource standpoint) and Republicans believe that by cutting a major tributary of the economy will strengthen the economy. Hmmm.... that makes sense. If they have their way, America will be a on-legged man competing in a global butt-kicking contest!

Kirk---- I think that you have put your finger right on the crux of the debt problem. You think it is a great investment for the government to spend $1.00 to get back $.50. Damn good investment!!! No wonder our country is nearing bankrupcy.

By your math that still leaves us 50% in the hole. Can't go on forever.

Tea Party Fan, the 27th Amendment would not prohibit the Congress from foregoing compensation. The 27th Amendment states that the amount of compensation for members of Congress cannot be altered until after an election of members of the House. The purpose was to prevent a lame duck Congress from raising their pay thereby increasing the pension amounts for members who were going to retire or who were defeated. Nice try though.

Typical Tea Bagger - distorting the truth..

None of Bush's wars or tax cuts were paid for and ended up adding 5.5 trillion to the debt. But oddly enough the republicans didnt care.. How strange, huh?

1) Bush's approval ratings dropped to well below the % that voted for him, so your comment seems to just be either misinformed or a blatant lie.
2) Stop politicizing the death of thousands of people on 9/11. It's sickening.
3) You don't "pay for" a tax cut. If I have to take a job that pays $20K a year less, nobody "pays for" the difference. You adjust spending.
4) The deaths of all soldiers in 9 years is a fraction of the % of murders on our southern border per year. Try caring about that if you want to stand by your comment.

Tea Party Fan,

You talk about the 27th Amendment suiting you so it slights a rival Dem. Why do your leaders want to amend or repeal parts of the U.S. Constitution that they claim to defend? In particular, the 14th, 16th and 17th Amendments? Or do you guys just argue the Constitution when it appeals to your ideology and then want to arbitrarily change it when it doesn't? And how do you explain Bachmann's desire to add a slew of Amendments to the Constitution?

Just Google: " 8 Candidates Who Want to Amend the US Constitution "

anderson evans - you lose any credibility when you throw out numbers like $5.5 trillion that Bush spent on Iraq. Will you and your great leader 0blamer ever get it threw your thick skulls that Bush hasn't been the POTUS for over 2 years. You guys continuing to blame him isn't winning you any votes.

Darn straight Anderson. Isn't it funny with the word choice? Why don't they just say "Hi, we demand that we cut more jobs! If you don't pass that, then we are going to delay pay on all the jobs that we can as well as delay paying invoices to small businesses that have government contracts which will force then the delay pay and even lay off more people!" They are fork-tongued and are not even smart about it. Jobs do not do themselves and the government is not a machine, but a people that (for the most part) work hard to do their jobs. This just goes to show you that Big Business is behind this because the don't "Lay-off Americans" they "Cut Spending"... wow that sounds SOooo much better!

I was kicked out of USAF basic training along with many other individuals due to defense cut backs from Clinton. My dad lost his job after 26 years with the company due to the same defense cut backs from Clinton.

I really hate Clinton....

Isn't it ironic? The jobs that are now threatened are those living off the taxpayers' money: government employees. Yet the President and his party, who's all for keeping the tax-swilling government as the world's largest, most luxuriously benefitted, highest paid group of employees (Q: Do you work at Boeing? A: I'm employed at Boeing, the Lazy B.) is willing to blockade the entire government payroll (except Congress and the Pres). Such petulance!

What is also interesting is that the blueprint laid out by the Rethugliparty chair in the house has more tax cuts in it for the upper class. Cut spending and taxes so you have to cut even more spending. What a way to run things. When in full power cut taxes and raise spending. When not in power at all say no and stall and stamp your feet. When in power in one area, cut spending and cut taxes. That makes a lot of sense, NOT!!!!! Cut the payments and the basis of income at the same time? That pays no debt.

How about cut congress salaries first?

AlexM

Sounds like lies to me. No one gets kicked out of basic training unless they lied during their enlistment, was caught doing drugs after enlisting, committed a crime after enlistment, was medically disqualified, or determined to be unfit for military duty due to mental or emotional issues. Now go back and tell the real reason your were disqualified. Additionally, there were no defense cutbacks during the Clinton years

Anderson - if you read correctly, the House Republicans want to pass the DoD budget for the remainder of Fy11 with virtually no reduction in funding which may restore your wife's and dad's job. The Dems want to cut the funding back much further and that's the problem - read before posting.

Why did not the Democrats pass a budget in Oct, Nov, and Dec when they had control of Washington they new the Repubs would get all the blame.

anderson evans - that's OK don't worry as Nancy Pelosi says, the more unemployement paid out, the better it is for the economy...

Big Paul- please don't get your information from False News and run with it. The Democrats wanted $10 billion in cuts, but the republicans pushed through the bill with $61 billion in cuts which included cuts in education and defense. Please dont make me do the work for you..

From Business Week.

Spending Slashed

The Republican plan, designed to fulfill campaign promises by the party to slash federal spending, would kill more than 100 programs and cut funding for hundreds more.

It would make reductions in programs affecting education, the environment, health care, energy, science and the arts. The Peace Corps budget would be cut by 20 percent and the maximum Pell college tuition grant would be slashed by 15 percent. The Social Security Administration said it would have to furlough employees.

anderson evans - if we can believe you - which is highly suspect based on your previous erroneous comments about the amount of debt that Bush added - I feel for anyone who loses their jobs. Your wife must have been one of the last ones hired for the Teachers Union to let her get fired or she was being paid on the local level out of the one time Federal Stimulus funds that ran out. You have got the wrong culprit on defense spending. The liberal Democrats cut defense spending anytime they get a chance not the Republicans. The Repubs haven't cut any defense programs. Possibly in the future - but not yet.

The Bush increase in debt was $4.2 trillion which included $1.5 trillion that Reid and Piglosi spent his last 2 years in office. Nice try to get people to believe $5.5 trillion on Bush but with Google people can look these things up for themselves www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm

Kirk....

Did you sleep through the elections last November? Not only that, but please tell us just exactly how long you think this country will survive with the idiots spending all this money that we do not have! How long do we continue to kick the can down the road. Someone has to stop this spending madness and it has to be done soon (like now).

Many of you folks decry that the budget cuts are going to kill 700,000 kids and so forth, but NONE of you (that I have read) have put forth any reasonable suggestions to put a slow down much less a halt to this siucidal decline to our financial doom.

You could raise the taxes as much as you desire and completely kill the corporations with additional taxes and you still would not put a dent into our deficit or accumulated debt.

C'mon, cut the BS if you do not have any proposals to solve the problems...

Just Saying...

You are wrong. Spending is 40% of GDP. That means all parties need to be taxed at 40% with no write-offs, no deduction no tax havens, straight pay tax.

Now if you want to make progress on the debt, start cutting spending after taxes are 40% and the budget is balanced. The savings from spending would then go to the debt, as long as we don't let them increase spending more.

Its not that hard, but you won't hear them talk like I do. No body wants to talk about what tax rate is needed to balance the budget as a starting point. They just want to manipulate you by saying only cuts will save us.

Kirk, you're as bad as Feisty...neither of you get it! There is no diffrence between Obama and Bush or between the dems and the repubs. They're all a bunch of lying, corrupt politicians who are in it for themselves. But go on raising your blood pressure ranting about how bad the GOP is if it makes you feel better...

Don't balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and the poor. The rich and the coorporations have sucked off of us for long enough. It's time they paid their fair share. They've been getting breaks for many years and they've been raking in record profits for their stock holders and to pay exhorbitant CEO salaries...they didn't create jobs with it or we wouldn't be in this mess now! ...and you want to give 'em more!!??? What does it take for people to learn a lesson?!

Hey TP Fan..

How about cutting defense spending? How about reverting back to the Clinton era tax brackets? How about reinstating the tax cuts to the top 1%? We certainly would save more money than the $33 Billion on the table now.. Just sayin..

Great! We have a "Tea-partier" here! So you think best time to re-arrange a house is in the middle of a Tornado? I am assuming you have a basic understanding of economics and how the capitalist system works via the economics engine. If not, maybe you understand that when a patient is bleeding in the hospital, it is not the appropriate time to discuss cutting transfusion resources. We are the patient on the table. We are the country in the twister right now. We need to cut spending but first let's stabilize the situation.

You mentioned "reasonable". What does the Tea Party know about reasonable? You liken yourself after the American Revolutionary heroes that instituted the first Tea Party as a protest against England. What you mob-mentality individuals don't understand is that "Tea" was not a staple or required to sustain life. You "Americans" are throwing other Americans overboard and that is just not acceptable. You want to take a meat-cleaver into surgery and expect the patient to survive?

Wow... I guess it goes to show that we really need to start making more investments into education as a country. By the way.... WHERE ARE THE JOBS???? and WHERE IS THE TEA???

Oppie, I'd go along with that. Make everybody pay a standard rate and get rid of all deductions and REFUNDS. Zero refunds period! That should save a ton of money. And if you're below the poverty line or super rich you pay the same rate. How about it??

soazDan,

I hear what you are saying and agree to a point. But, if the current President was like Bush, then why are "Big Businesses" doing all they can to make sure that he or another President like him never be elected again? Obviously they are accustomed to being in control (they are NOT in control right now) and are now trying to ensure that they never lose control again....

The big problem that I have is the concept of majority leaders and the power they have. Why should any elected representative of congress have recognized authority over another?

Kirk, they are every bit in control now as they were when Bush was in office. Obama just did a fund raiser at $28,000 a plate. Who do you think goes to those dinners? Regular Joes? Obama has his Hollywood supporters but he gets his big money from business. Look at GE and the sweet deal they have going with Obama. Do you really think he is against big business? He knows his role and his supporters so he shapes his lies to appeal to them, just like Bush or Clinton or Reagan...

soazDan....

As every one of us should acknowledge probabilities in the absence of concrete information, I will have to look into this. While I can't say that you are "right" or "wrong", you do make excellent points. As a responsible American and voter, I am obligated to dig deeper so that I may become better form and a contributor to a better America. Stay tuned......

Kirk, I also could be wrong too. I've just become very disenchanted (as I imagine many Americans are) with politicians in general. I look forward to what you find though and will look at it with an open mind.

I deserve healthcare! Its my right! I am not a man and I can't insure my family. I need the gov't!

Kirk, you are a sorry excuse for a man! Hey, vote for Obama? Gee, I can guess!

Kirk says where are the jobs, Ask the idiot bo in the white what he did with them.

It's time to start impeachment proceedings before bo destroys what is left of this country

ggod post kirk...it is a revenue issue !!!!! the gop allowed big business to go overseas cuuting jobs for profit and also cutting revenue in the form of taxes, no job ,no pay and no tax...Hello are any of the moronic jacka$$'s on the right paying attention. The more the corporations make in profit the more the rich receive in their dividen checks as they are invested and in bed with big business

If you think the top income tax rate of 35% is burdensome, we had a rate of 94% in 1944 when all Americans banded together for the common good. In addition, we used nickels, dimes and quarters to buy War Bond stamps at ten cents each and pasted them into a little booklet. When the booklet was filled we took it to the bank and got a $25 US Savings Bond - in effect we borrowed from ourselves to finance the war. Novel idea, huh.

America is in trouble and WE better get ready to sacrifice to save her. That means fewer services provided with more efficiency and much higher taxes. Anyone who says taxes must not be raised is doing as much harm to the USA as any terrorist could.

Brad Cantor - I think it is a great idea to go back to the Clinton era tax rates. We would add millions to the tax rolls that were taken off by the Bush tax cuts. There are 47% who pay no Fed Income tax today. You realize that the bottom 98% will pay $330 billion in taxes per year and the top 2% will pay $70 billion per year more in taxes since most of the tax cuts went to the middle and lower classes.

While we are at it - lets go back to Clinton's last budget - the one that was submitted on-time in Oct 2000. That budget was just under $2 trillion dollars. A hell of a lot better than the $3.7 trillion 0blamer has been spending per year.

Still wanna go back to Clinton era taxes and spending??

black_belt3

Brad Cantor - I think it is a great idea to go back to the Clinton era tax rates. We would add millions to the tax rolls that were taken off by the Bush tax cuts. There are 47% who pay no Fed Income tax today. You realize that the bottom 98% will pay $330 billion in taxes per year and the top 2% will pay $70 billion per year more in taxes since most of the tax cuts went to the middle and lower classes.

While we are at it - lets go back to Clinton's last budget - the one that was submitted on-time in Oct 2000. That budget was just under $2 trillion dollars. A hell of a lot better than the $3.7 trillion 0blamer has been spending per year.

Still wanna go back to Clinton era taxes and spending??

Actually, I'd rather go back to the Jimmy Carter era of taxes.

Huh ???

To the Young Adult Majority citizens of America: (#2 - of a series):

Are you numbing from the recession and the rant from a few who have chafe in their cup of brew? To the young and disenfranchised, take delight that you can intelligently wade through the air waves and news articles with intellectual discernment to filter out with your online toolbar, the pervasive sources of illogical arguments (bigotry, hate, fear, racism, sensationalism, emotionalism, religion, guilt, circular argument) which otherwise cloud the view of those who have fallen prey to them. Turn your radio dial away from the raucous radio talk show hosts and change your TV channel away from poor quality journalistic news reporting, whose intent is to dumb down Americans to make them clueless and raise their self-centered and selfish market share. Do the Google Search for Philosophy text on elements of illogic in argument (statement, premises, conclusions). Tweet what you learn. We await you.

The "Born boomer-banging chili."

It doesn't make any sense no matter how many times you post it. Suppose you are going for the " silly liberal poetry award" at the student center.

born boomer...

Huh? to you too!!

Why don't you post something new that those of us who are less crazy, than you, can understand?

Just Asking...

Tell you what tea-bagger-fan

Lose your job due to "budget cuts", and then spend the next year trying to find a new job all the while you lose your house and car, and even though you are well qualified and hold a degree, you are unable to find a job and be forced to live on unemployment because there are no jobs out there.. THEN come back and tell us how important it is to keep cutting the budget. You'll be singin' a different tune I bet..

Just Sayin'..

Well said "Born boomer-banging chili."

To the Young Adult Majority citizens of America: (#3 - of a series):

Question the political influence of a few who proclaim to be the majority rule and who are overly self-confident. Rise up and you will find your voice is shared by many more, just like in North Africa and the Middle East. Rise up with your use of information technology. You can counter by rising up and changing your voter registration to Independent Voter status. Rise up, and in so doing you will hold more political clout than this nation has ever before seen and never before reckoned with. Rise up to claim your empowerment! Show America what you learn and show us. We are proud of you. You are our hope.

The "Born boomer-banging chili."

I'm reposting up what a reader has called a, "Simple Scripted Re-Enactment of the Government Shut Down," by "Cincinnati Slim":

------------------------------------------------------------------

Cincinnati Slim

GOP" "you have to agree to 33 billion in cuts or we'll shut down the guv'ment!"

Tea Party: "Shut it down, shut it down"

Dems:"wow, are you serious...well, OK 33 billion it is OK?"

GOP: "you have to agree to 65 billion in cuts or we'll shut down the guv'ment!"

Tea Party: "Shut it down, shut it down"

Dems: "Hey we already compromised, we can't do 65 billion! no way!"

GOP: "you have to agree to 65 billion in cuts plus defund every agency we find distasteful or inconvienent or we'll shut down the guv'ment!"

Dems: "this is getting worse and worse, I though we had a deal!"

Tea Party: "Shut it down, shut it down"

Pres Obama: "Hey why am I the only adult in the room here? work out a deal and make this thing work!"

Tea Party: "Shut it down, shut it down"

GOP: "now we want everything our way all the time or we'll shut down the guv'ment!"

Dems: "Jeez! there's no pleasing you people, you are totally unreasonable and we're running out of time!"

Tea Party: "Shut it down, shut it down"

Pres Obama: "OK you knuckleheads the economy is going to tank again if you can't figure this out NOW!"

Tea Party: "Shut it down, shut it down"

BOOM! times out...

GOP:"waaaa BoooHo...the Dems are so unreasonable, they are totally to blame for the shutdown"

Tea Party: "HooRay we Shut it down, shut it down"

#3.1 - Wed Apr 6, 2011 11:00 AM HST

Anderson - if you lost your job more than a year ago due to budget cuts it wasn't because of the Republican party stopping the 0blamer regime from spending money. It was from a private business cutting back - likely because of 0bamacare. Dems had complete control of House and Senate for 4 years and 2 years control of everything. 0blamer is the guy you need to be voting against.

I agree. A church is a business. They should be taxed like every other business out there.

Dick...

That may be if you can get enough of your idiot congressional progressives to introduce the bill and get it passed. But, why do you also not advocate that all the progressive 501-c3's be taxed? Hmmm, that would never work since that would mean you would cut off your nose to spite your face.

Why is it that none of you folks from the progressive side have NEVER proposed ANYTHING to actually solve our financial woes that was caused by spending like a drunk sailor in a whore house....

Just Saying...

Here's a start for you TP-Fan:

I got it, tax anyone who espouses to support the Tea Party, or its causes, a special tax, 50%!!!

That'll reduce the deficit.

Ditto, dirp101. Of course, the Tea Baggers have already paid a lot out in contributions to the GOP to get their shut down, but, you are right, and they want lower tax rates for their taxable IRA distributions, before the GOP is left with no choice but to increase tax rates later. Tax rate increases that will no longer hurt the Tea Baggers. Shut that notion down, Young Adult Majority. That Ryan Care plan does not affect the Tea Baggers if they are 55 or over. The GOP was quick to realize the Tea Party would balk at that notion. Are you Young Adult Majority voters balking at what the GOP cares less about you?

It is a stupid idea to tax churches - but if you start taxing 501-C3's but if you do you need to tax all charities and other non-profit agencies. Then charitable giving will drop down to the Joe Biden level of a couple hundred dollars per year. Dumb idea.

Jerry D..

Don't know you, but, you sound like someone I could get to like and maybe even have a beer with.

Just Saying...

Term limit every last one of them.

What a total joke this government (all sides) has become. The founding fathers would be disgusted if they saw how nothing ever gets accomplished in Washington. It is sad that all the representatives in DC are only concerned with posturing and who wins the next election. The moment they are sworn in none of them care less about the citizens in this country. I love this country and am damn proud to live here but it makes me sick every day I see these 'representatives' do nothing but bicker!

Indeed..I'll buy the first round. I always said term limits should be part of the deal....things become stagnant otherwise. especially when you got the same old guys making decisions using out dated thinking. The minute the electiomn is over they start wrking toard the next one. They spend 70% of their time fund raising 20% on vacation and the other 10% sleeping in chambers.

Stuart

Right on.....We don't need career politicians that are there only to get re-elected.

There is a method of enforcing "term limits" don't vote for the "bums."

If you like your Congressman, by all means, keep them. But every two years, you get the choice to keep them or replace them. There are very few Congressmen who don't face a primary fight every two years.

If you are really disgusted with your Representatives, and you don't like the choices you've been given, run yourself. If the likes of Michelle Bachman can get elected, why not you ?

I totally agree!!!! Lets kick them all out, and start over! Then set term limits, make them participate in the same programs / requirements that the "normal American" has to, and take away lifetime benefits and salaries. That is what SSI and Medicare are for. =) Maybe they will worry about those programs more if they are going to be relying on them as well.

OK, you guys, one more time. The House passed the budget bill to the Senate in July 2010. The Senate Republicans used the filibuster to keep it from ever coming to the Senate floor for a vote. Got it now?

Bruce -848280 - you are full of BS - the Republicans would have benefited the most by letting the budget get debated on the Senate floor. Dirty Harry Reid did not bring it up on the floor of the Senate because he was in a tight re-election battle and the Tea Party was running on a cut spending campaign in Nov 2010. The last thing the Dems wanted was for the world to see a $3.7 trillion dollar budget with at least $1.6 trillion as deficit spending. I call your BS - the Repubs wanted that bill to come up in Sept and Oct in the worst way - had it come up the Dems would already be in the minority in the Senate and Reid would be retired because he would have lost to a Tea Partier.

Rob, I'm an "African American" and agree with you 100%. Black People, wake up to Obama's cowardliness. Where's the "Hood" in this man?

Rob

I case you have forgotten, he has to deal with the Republicans. And he hasn't changed on

any of the items you bring up. So what are your points if you have any?

Quite obvious, isn't it that Obama is trying to hold onto his massive spending and Reid is right in there as usually doing the same thing? Frankly, why should we pay for abortions that half these women use as a means for birth control. This is not something the government should fund or try to control in any way.

I guess Reid and Obama don't really care if the government shuts down as long as they get paid and can run off on lavish vacations.

Want to cut the bs? Freeze all government travel expense spending. And all their expense accounts.

If the government shuts down, does that mean the Whitehouse Chef and maids don't get paid?

Because you're NOT paying for abortions, Last. No federal funding goes to abortions, period. What this bill would do is end Planned Parenthood entirely.

yea. send the power back to the states. Worst case, the screwups will be limited to their own state.

Obama and the Dems are the new party of NO but you see it as OK now. He and the Dems are trying to spend this country to death and you love it.

no to new laws without representaion, no to the removal of public employees voice, no to the end of abortion as a choice, no to the end of collective bargaining, no to the end of planned parenthood for poor women, no to the end of a watchdog for the environment.

Linda - you have drank the koolaide. Until a couple years ago the govt didn't pay for abortions and the govt shouldn't be paying for them now. In 20 plus years of Planned Parenthood the abortion % hasn't changed one bit so they are just a branch of the govt where you can go and get free abortions. That is not what I pay money for. Buy a condom, the pill, don't have sex - give the guy a Monica.

Nancy passed a budget. The Senate Rebubs, the party of no, said no. Remember?

Do you remember that the Dems held the majority and refused to pass it?

@Brad Cantor - last summer when this budget should have passed the Dems held 60 seats. More then enough to pass anything just like they did with Obamacare.

Last summer, the Democrats had 59 seats and the Republicans were saying "No" to everything.

Democrats passed the health care bill. They could have had a budget done but wanted to spend more. The only reason the budget was not passed is because it would have became public knowledge what the democrats are spending the money on. It would have made them look bad. They knew they were going to suffer big time in the elections and to cut their losses, they decided it was in their best interest not to pass a budget bill.

Heartlight3

Ward - The 2011 Budget was deemed passed in the House but it could not be brought to the floor for discussion in the Senate due to Republican filibusters. Some say, they could have used reconciliation, but reconciliation is used on the final vote to pass a bill after debate. Since it never even got to the floor for discussion, it could not be voted on.

Health care was passed through reconciliation only after it had been negotiated for a year and people were so sick of all the holds and filibusters that they finally allowed debate on the floor because it was clear the Dems were going to keep fighting for it.

I don't know where you could have been these last two years to have missed hearing about the obstructive tactics employed by the Republicans. The only things that got passed were things the Dems were able to get past the Republican obstruction brigade. That's where all the back room deals that everyone was so upset about came from.

#2.8 - Wed Apr 6, 2011 11:49 AM HST